"An Outset In The Sea" is track two on the Hungry Lights studio album "The Awry Ascent." Remember that this is a summary, not the entire story! It is like 10% of what is actually going on—just the skeleton. It is a rough translation of what is literally going on in the lyrics. There is also a figurative story that is taking place at the same time which goes much deeper and does not involve the fictional character Prill, but that is up to you to find :) It is much easier to discover the hidden meaning when you grasp a decent understanding of the literal meaning first. These are your puzzle pieces, and I highly suggest you study them before pursuing the next albums in the sequence, otherwise emotion and information will be lost, therefore connections will be missed!

"An Outset In The Sea" is basically the first chapter of the story. You are introduced to the main character, "Prill," who is a twenty-five year old sea hunter (like a fisherman, but for plesiosaurs and other sea monsters rather than fish). The past-tense nature of the lyrics indicates that the story is being told in hindsight.

There was a shipwreck the night before, and he has woken up in the middle of the ocean—floating on some driftwood. On the boards below him are presumably the contents of his hourglass—a pile of sand (this is what is used to keep track of time on this planet which Justin has named, "Terrium.") Prill believes that his wife, "Prite," is calling him home (she lives on the other side of the Grand Wall, which is a barrier that separates the Math from R'oa. For more information on this, check out the lore[1]section).

Prill is worried that Prite has forgotten him while he was out on his reckless endeavor, and then an Albatross named "Artorn" makes his acquaintance. Prill expresses his distaste for the way ordinary people live their lives of comfort and luxury. He believes that life should be so much more than that. People are afraid of change, but the world is constantly changing, and Prill prides himself in his ability to change with it.

He asserts a desire to do something more with his life—something fresh, but he is afraid that he is not good enough to do anything else. He considers himself to be a master fisherman, but his father was also a sea hunter (the best in the business), and before he died, he gave Prill the spiral lure that has become his lucky charm. Because of his father's massive footsteps, Prill is unsure if he is good enough to follow in them and live up to the hype. He then goes on about missing his wife and yearning for her. He wishes that he could stay with her instead of gallivanting off on dangerous adventures, but it is job. It is how he provides.

After a very long time in the water, he sees the shoreline of the Grand Wall, and he is filled with a great enthusiasm. Prill plunges fully into the sea and makes his way towards home.